**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2204 regarding the restoration of Vembanad Lake, answered on August 1, 2025. The question raised concerns about the lake's shrinkage from 40,000 hectares to 12,000 hectares and its impact on biodiversity and local livelihoods. The response clarifies that Cochin Port Trust is only a conservator of waterbodies within its notified limits, and Vembanad Lake falls outside this jurisdiction. Consequently, Cochin Port has not been designated as the implementing agency for the lake's restoration under the Sagarmala Programme. Furthermore, the Ministry states that it has not received any proposals to include the restoration of Vembanad Lake under the Sagarmala Programme, nor any proposals to restore the lake's depth to 4.2 meters. The impact of silt accumulation and subsidence on coastal flooding related to the lake's storage capacity has also not been assessed under the Sagarmala Programme, as no relevant proposals have been submitted. The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, provided the official response.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for ports, shipping, and waterways.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Vembanad Lake: A large lake in Kerala, India, which is the subject of a proposed restoration project.
SHRI HIBI EDEN: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question regarding the Vembanad Lake restoration project.
Cochin Port Trust: A port authority in Kochi, Kerala, India, considered as a potential implementing agency for the Vembanad Lake restoration project.
Sagarmala Programme: A Government of India initiative for port-led development, under which the Vembanad Lake restoration project was considered.
SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL: The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways who answered the question in the Lok Sabha.
Kerala: The state in India where Vembanad Lake and Cochin Port are located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2204
ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
RESTORATION OF VEMBANAD LAKE PROJECT
2204. SHRI HIBI EDEN:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन एवं जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ालय
(a) whether the Government is aware of the alarming shrinkage of Vembanad Lake
from 40,000 hectares to 12,000 hectares and its consequences on local biodiversity
and livelihoods, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether Cochin Port Trust is proposed to be designated as the implementing
agency for restoration of Vembanad Lake project execution under the Sagarmala
Programme, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government will consider including the restoration of Vembanad
Lake under the Sagarmala Programme, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor;
(d) whether the recommendations to restore the lake’s depth to 4.2 meters will be
considered, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) whether the reduction in the lake’s storage capacity due to silt accumulation
and subsidence has been assessed for its impact on coastal flooding, if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) & (b) Cochin Port is only a conservator of the waterbodies coming under the notified
limit of Cochin Port. The Vambanad Lake is outside the notified limit of Cochin Port.
Cochin Port has not been designated as the implementing agency for restoration of
Vembanad Lake project under the Sagarmala Programme.
(c) to (e) No such proposal has been received for consideration under Sagarmala
Programme.
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